Hey guys,

I just picked up a 2004 Mini Cooper S last week and have a few plans.

Things I've done:
Installed an aftermarket ipod/iphone head unit
One Ball Exhaust Mod
K&N drop in filter
Tried to peal the vinyl stripe off and as soon as it got to a rock chip it pealed the paint... kinda lame.

Things I'm looking to do:
some sort of intake with a cold box
paint the car a new color (probably grey or black)
paint the grey interior plastic pieces
Paint the rear tail light and headlight chrome black.

Here's my car (and me):

 

Hey mate, congrats and welcome! That's a great looking Mini!

 

Really nice MINI you have there DrewWphoto, keep having fun and enjoy NAM...

 

Thanks guys.

I'm a little bummed that the paint pealed while I removed the vinyl stripe yesterday but other than that I love this car

 

Painted some good stripes on after sanding down the paint area that pealed off yesterday. Looks ok, might redo it in a couple weeks.

By the way. I'm looking to do the Joey mod to my xenon headlight but they're the non projectors and I seem to only see directions for the projector ones.

What should I do different?

 

I have a 04 also, long live the R53 ! I hate chrome so blacked out all of it but used carbon fiber on the bonnet scoop and door handles.

 

That's a nice electrics blue, hard to find color anymore.

Good luck on the paint mods. And post up some pics after each project.


K&N drop in filter & We have Pipercross also which is foam and a light oil filter. They were part of the older MINI Challenge series. Gives you another option.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/13721491749/





Pipercross cleaner kit:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/C9005/


K&N cleaner:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/99-5050/

Thanks

 

Hey guys. I think i figure out what the weird acceleration thing is. The bypass valve on these goes bad? How big of a pain is that to replace?

Also, I already have a K&N drop in but want to switch to the open cone so I can hear it more :-)

 

Welcome to NAM, DrewWphoto and congrats on your new MINI. it looks fantastic by the way. I couldn't agree more with your intension to paint the interior grey pieces. In retrospect, they look a little funny that light. Happy motoring and please don't forget to wave.

 

Bypass valve isn't too bad can be done in less than 2 hours, it's a bit of a pain though. If you want the upgraded oem Ecs I found has the best price. Nice mini black it out and the color will grow on you.

 

Thanks Bav,

The bypass valve is right here: Part # 11617568423

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11617568423/




#22 in the diagram.



Thanks

 

ECS Tuning, is that the updated OEM one with the better spring?

 

This is the bypass valve for the supercharged. Think you are thinking of the Turbo engines with the DV valve and the spring ?

This 11617568423 which is the latest version and was updated in 2007 from what I have.

11611501937 was one of the older part numbers.

Thanks

 

Yea it does close better than the pre facelift.

 

I'm talking about the 2005 and up supercharged ones that corrected the "yo yo" effect with the boost

 

Yep, newer one has the latest spring, 11617568423 . Sorry thought you were talking about DV on turbo engines.

 

Just ordered one from you guys, ECSTuning.

Hope the install isn't one of those "This should be easy" 6 hours later "**** THIS" jobs.

 

Get yourself a few worm clamps to make it a little easier to reassemble. Also be careful when seating the supercharger horn couplers, mine didn't seat properly and I had a huge vacuum leak briefly.

 

Awesome, thanks. Good advice above ^^

 

Where on the reinstall would I use the worm clamps?

 

On the throttle body and the bypass valve, and I have some on the intake ducts and air filter connections.

 

Just changed my bypass today, took about 30 mins, was able to skip a few steps off the Detroit tuned instructions. Saved me loads of time, drives so much better now.

 

Can you tell us what the symptoms were, and what steps you did to make the job quicker?

 

Symptoms were some bad hesitation but no check engine light, poor performance at low rpm. Less than great gas mileage. Also was running only 13lbs of boost instead of 15 lbs. As far as steps I was able to skip; didn't have to completely remove the intercooler boots just remove the driver side boots and loosen the passenger side boot then sneak the intercooler off. No need to remove the throttle body or the supercharger intake tube. Good luck!

 

Holy crap my car was on a hill today that was kinda steep and there was no freakin way it was going to get going. The car seems so damn sluggish at low rpms.

Just got my bpv today so I'll switch it off in the next few days. I'll try your method and try to cut that time off the installs

Also, I was told you aren't supposed to see light though the butterfly valve on the bpv but the one I just got has light around the edges. It looks pretty even and not off center.. Should I just adjust how far it's closed?